Coupler



N.- HUDSON June 22, 1943.

COUPLER Filed 001;.

s Sheets-She et 1 53 R J N\ 2 E w lI NVENTOR I /Mm ATTORNEY.'

June 22, 1-943. N. HUDSON I 2,322,446

. COUPLER Filed Oct. 28, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l6. l0. :04

INVENTOR 6M ATTORNEY June 22, 1:?43.

iled Oct. 28. 1941 HUDSON COUPLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Big/W ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUPLER V Neal Hudson, Phoenix, Aria. Application October 28, 1941, Serial No. 416,819

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-33.17)

This invention relates to couplers particularly adapted to couple tractors to farm implements, trailers and the like, and has for its objects- First, to provide a coupler including a special type of tongue which will securely and automatically look when the tongue is inserted in the coupler body and which may be unlocked byoperated means contained within the coupler body,- and controlled from any convenient place;

A second object is to provide a coupler Wherein the movements between the drawing vehicle and the drawn vehicle may be accommodated both as'to turning in a horizontal plane to a maximum angle as well as variations and angle between the vehicles in a vertical plane, all combined with a tongue having a swivel to permit relative twisting movement between the drawing vehicle and the drawn vehicle; r

. A further object is to provide a coupler having mechanism contained within an enclosed case which will receive and automatically latch and hold the draw bar of a tongue and. retain the same until positive operation of mechanical mechanism releases the latching means. Other objects will appear-hereinafter. I attain the foregoing objects by meansof the construction and devices shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 4 Figure 1 is a plan view of the coupler; Figure 2 is aside elevation thereof; Figure 3, an end elevation thereof;

Figure 4, a plan view of the tongue, draw bar and swivel support therefor Figure 5, an elevation of the tongue, draw bar and support;

Figure 6, a sectional side elevation of the same;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the-latch mechanism container body;

Figure 8, a side elevation thereof;

Figure 9, a mid-sectional side elevation of the complete coupler body showing the interior construction, drawn on a somewhat larger scale and substantially on line 9-9, Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a cross section thereof taken substantially on lines I-lll, Figure 9, drawn to the same scal as Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the coupler latch dog drawn on the same scale as Figure 9;

Figure 12 isa side elevation of the pneumatic plunger releasing device shown partially in section and drawn on the same scale;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the latching plunger drawn on a somewhat smaller scale, and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the combination latch dog release and plunger locking piece drawn on the same scale as Figure 13.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views. 4

The latch mechanism is enclosed in a case or shell 2 composed of upper and lower halves indicated by numerals 3 and 4' respectively, held together by bolts 5 and8. This shell has a gen eral spherical body portion, the interior of which is substantially spherical so that theinner latch holding body 1 may pivot on a vertical axis within the shell. The latch body,. shown particularly in Figures '7 and 8,, is generally spherical except that it is truncated slightly at the top and more.

substantially at the bottom as indicated by numeral 9. Annular V-shaped grooves 10 and II are turned around this spherical body near it top and bottom respectively. These grooves form bearing-like annular channels and are construct ed so that they are circular and are generated so that the entire sphere will turn withinthe case 2 on a vertical axis .a'sindicated at :r-x, Figure 8. The interioror case 2 is provided with annular guide ribs setting in these grooves.

Near the rear edge of each of the case halves these guides l4 and I5, respectively, are provided with annular walls having -a V section The upper wall I 6 is on a plane at right anglesto the axis of pivot and the other wall ll on an annular sheath corresponding toa projection of the radius of'the s'phere. Thisconstruction-provides an additional means for holding the upper and lower parts of the case together whenv the device is under strain. These grooves extendapproximatelyten degrees on either side of'thelongitudinal center of the shell parts; For the rest of the circumference these guides consist of a lower. face l8 at right angles to the axisof pivot and-a vertical annular side wall l9. I;'his construction is necessary to permit the assembling of the body (within the two case halves. This combination provides a semi-spherical body 1 within the two case halves. which will turn therein on a vertical axis corresponding to the center of the spherical body and the spherical case. The annular guides act as bearing surfaces and the portion of the guides having the wedged shaped section at the rear edges along the rear portion of the mount of the;containing case act as retention means to hold the rear portion of.

the case halves together.

A rectangular opening 20 is out into'therear face of the latch body 1 and the walls of this.

opening generally converge toward the center. This opening is sized inproportion to receive the tongue D stirrup 2| and the side walls converge at a slant generally proportionate to the angular pitch of the side bars 22 of the latch, whereas the upper and lower faces of, this opening are suf-. ficiently large to permit'an upward and downward play of the D- stirrup within the opening" when its draw bar 23 is locked in place within the opening. This lower face may be formed of a removable block 25, as shown in Figure 3: and indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9. This construction may be used to afford replacement after opening 29.;

wear; and facilitate assembly of the parts within body 5. This lower face has a raised central portion 26 forming a lower retaining lip; its inner face .21 being shaped to conform to the circumlatching mechanism are situated. Of firstimrtan e s ma n lat h 'wwhich o k anarcue a e channel; 35; p e we vert c l. ection ur 9 upeha; tra sv r e; sha ififii nfisura 9, e 'his' hewnv nc osed r a ched posi n:

to open it rocks counterclockwise It normally sumes. he, closed; pos tion y. reaso of aspen;- r; f f ir i gio he .r arlof, ts. a is of :sup' port on shaft 36.1 The limits of its motionw'being indicated by the dotted; outlines 31. This latch is made of cast or forged steel: generally in the shape shown and the general outer surfaces gmay be machined togexactshape. However, the only es i finaistMt f he micircli r rocking, surface 38., At the rear. of ,latch e. i a t ejfae 3 i u lyispos as to contact ,andbe' stopped definitelyfby engagement with a similarfbutting fac 44 on the latch dog it.- The forward" bottom surface is shaped to form al hook I33; conforming to the surface ofdraw' barfzsjand adapted to; engage thiszdra w bar when inserted into the -re.'cta ngular' Second inimportance: is "latch Ml"; which pivots ona transverse-shaft; I extending through g 1 the latch housirig. It center of gravity is for.- ward oflits' airis of pivot so that it normally assumes the locked positionas indicated by solid lines in' Figure 9., This dog has a'peculiar shape particularly adaptedjto the use here concerned andis therefore shown inperspective inFigure 1-1; It inaybemadeof cast steelior forged steel and machined on theiworking surfaces hereinafter described. Atransver'sebearing hole #2- is positioned near the rear; bottom portion of the dog bodm; Below and 'forward of this is a-trans- 7 Verse liftinglug 43 adaptedto contact the dog lifter hereinafter described; 'The lower edge of the dog isshaped 'to provide an arcuate surface relative to airis of'sha'ft ll- The-upper and rear portion of its surfaceexten-d-s forward arcuately but its exact-contouris notcritical; Along the forward upper edge is a butting surface M" formed and disposed atan a-ngl'to contact the correspondingbutting surface 39 011 latch 33. The angle of the plane ofcontactbetweenthese surfaces is such that whei-i -thedog is rotated counter c1ockwise,- as in releasing movement, there will be littlehang or friction onthe lower edgeo'fthis surface. Below this butting surface there is a latch notch 4 5 extending transversely and having its lower side set at an angle to corredotted outlines 16? On eachouter face of the latch there are outwardlyiextending ears or lugs 41 adapted to engageshoulderblocks 41a set in eitherside of upperside walls of well in the V latch body. Engagementofthe lower surfaces" of these lug ears takes the strain of the rocking of the dog somewhat off of its transverse bearing shaft M. Within the rear arcuate surface 48 of the dog there are three latching holes to receive spring setting latches sears. These are indicated by numerals 49, and 51. The center portion of the upper edge of the latch is cut away at 52 to provide clearance for a spring latch push rod hereinafter described.

While both the latch and latch dog normally assume closed position by gravity it is to be understood that this may be enhanced by loop springs surrounding their respective supporting shafts and operative between the case body and the latch and dog bodies respectively.

To. rotate latch dog it fromloplen to closed p0" sition a dog; lifter fiiliis positioned ingwell-tiii and s p d f ee y moi e .u 'and' own ther in This, lifter has a' flattransVerse portion El atjthe ends to. downwardly dependingleg $2} it "has an. inverted U-shape. V V V Within the span or open space between these legs the rear end ofthe' jamlplungerj 66 'works freely, having a longitudinal horizontal motion.

1 This space is of sufiicientwidth to span or bridge Th plunger works longitudinally by'sliding' motion;

the. rear flat portion of this plunger.

within the lower part of the well and a forward extension thereof 67 in the lower' portion of the latch body l. 'Upward'motion'of the; 1a.l7 Ch dQ-gf liftenisobtained and actuated loy ah'ydraulic; pis This cylinder is ton H a worliing'in' cylinder 1'8. set on a plate ll attached to the fiatbottom. is of body I and is sized 1 so thatlt; extends up through an opening Win the rearfiat portion of plunger Strand the piston Ha isproportioned so asjto-reach and bear on theundersideftfl of the fiatitop portion 53} of" dog release or lifter Gil. Thispistonis actuated by fluid forced under pressure through'an orifice 12' in block ll and thence through a union coupler 'l 3'a-xiallypositionedrelative'to the; bottom I face M of body '7 and thence cennectingthrough a. fiexible mtal plunger 68 forward to the forward facea-ofthe opening M.- Ofthese parts just described, the latch andlatch dog form the general latching mechanism. The latch dog lifter and'hydraulic piston form the 'unlatchin'g mechanism and plunger 66 is the main part for releasing th 'unlatching mechanism;

In addition to 'these' parts there are three spring latches used to hold'these main parts in latched and unlat che'd positions throughout the cycle of operations. Referenceis made to Figure 10. This shows the face ofwell opening 3] to Which-these spring latches are attached. At the extremeright, as viewed'in this figure, 8iiindicates the open-position latch; This latch is pivotedat the top'onstu'cls Si set into the back wall of well opening 3! and xtends downwardly so as tov engage the rearface ofi Xtension 53 0f plunger 58 at'82. forward by a plunger and spring d3 setinto the back wall of wellportion fl i. This-plunger is not shown in Figure 9: because it is directly behind a plunger 93hereinafter described. The; forward face of spring latch is providedwith tw'o' latchsear's. An upper sear; 84 is; adaptedto' en- Thelatch is resiliently held gage hole 49 in latch dog 40 to hold it in open position by contact with the lower edge of this opening. A lower sear 85 is positioned to engage a notch 86 in dog lifter 60 when it is in raised position. In the center of well opening 3I a secondary open position spring latch 90 is pivoted on bearing stud M at its bottom. This latch is held resiliently forward by a spring and plunger 93 set in the back wall portion of body I. At the top it is hinged at 94 to a push rod 95 which extends forward sufficiently to engage a stop lug 96 on the top of the upper portion of latch 33. Sear 91 extends forward from the forward face of this latch and is positioned to engage the hole 53 on the rear of latch dog 40 and retain it in unlatched or open position by contact with its bottom face. A third spring latch I is supported at its top on stud IOI in the back wall of well 3!. It is urged forward by a plunger I331]. and spring I32 set in the same wall and is provided with a sear I33 positioned to engage hole 5I in the rear of latch dog 40 to hold the latch dog in closed or latched position by contact with the top face of said opening. The lower portion is provided with a slide surface I04 spaced and positioned to engage the rear face of the upper portion 6| of latch dog release 60 as it moves upward.

Spring latches 3i) and 9!! may thus be known as mechanism for releasably retaining the main latching mechanism in open or unlatched position. Spring latch I00 constitutes an additional latch locking mechanism.

The two rearwardly diverging side bars 22 connected at the front by tongue draw bar 23 and by the fork I23 at the rearconstitute the drawbar D stirrup. The fork I23 is welded to or otherwise attached to a cylindrical plug I24 having an annular groove I25. A two part sleeve clamp I26 encloses the end of tubular tongue bar I21 attached to the vehicle to be drawn. Lugs I28 extending inwardly from the halves of the two part sleeve clamp I21 through holes in the tongue bar end, extend into annular groove I25 and form a solid means for retaining the plug and permitting axial movement between the D stirrup and the tongue bar.

The forward end of the coupler case is attached to the tractive vehicle by a large eye ring I35). Since the'coupler latch body I pivots within case 2 the adjacent edges of the upper and lower halves of the case are cut away at the rear and sides to form a semi-annular slots I3I to give the tongue free vertical swing within the coupler body at whatever angle this opening I may bear to the longitudinal axis, or line of traction of the coupler case. Thus coupler body I may pivot within case 2 to an extreme of ninety degrees on each side of the longitudinal center. At any pivotal position tongue D stirrup has a free vertical swing of approximately forty-five degrees. 1

Use and operation It is intended that this coupler be used in conjunction with a tractor vehicle with the latch body shell 2 set into the rear of the vehicle and the tongue and draw bar attached to the appliance or vehicle to be drawn. Coupling is completed and backing the tractor so that the coupler body I is directed toward the draw bar stirrup 2|. If the parts are substantially aligned it is only necessary to bring the parts together, whereupon the draw bar stirrup will be received into the opening 20 of the latch body. If the parts are not aligned it is a simple matter to turn the latch body 1 within the case so that the opening substantially faces the draw bar stirrup. Rear motion of the tractor so as to force the draw bar stirrup into the rectangular conical opening in the latch body causes the draw bar 23 to be engaged between the raised retaining portion 2 on the lower face of the opening and the latch 33 which is held in latched position by the mechanism hereinabove described. Release of the latching mechanism is effected by the injection of oil under pressure through tube 15 to cylinder I0, whereupon a series of operations of the parts contained within body 1 takes place to effect a release of latch 33 from the closed position and permit the withdrawal of the D stirrup latch bar 23.

Operation of the inner working portions of the latch body is explained as follows: Commencing with the closed position, as shown in Figure 9, with the tongue draw bar 23 in position as indicated, piston Ha moves upward, forcing the dog release 60 to the upper limit of its travel indicated by dotted outline --A. The upper face of portion 6| of this part engages the lower lug 43 of latch dog 43, moves it upward and causes the dog to swing on its bearing 4! in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by dotted outline 46. On its upward travel the rear face of dog release EIlengages the portion I34 of spring latch I03 forcing it to the rear and disengaging sear I33 from opening 5| in the latch dog. Thus, the counterclockwise motion indicated can take place. Motion of the'latch dog to this open position indicated by 43 releases the butting surfaces 39 and 44 from the closed position, whereupon latch 33 is free to rock on its semi-bearing support 38 on transverse rod 33 to the open position indicated by the dotted outline 31. .As the tongue draw bar 23 is removed, it rides up over the raised portion 21 andpushes latch 33 to the open position 31.

Concurrently with the upward motion of dog release by piston Ha it is held and retained in position by engagement of spring latch sear in notch 86 and dog 49 is retained in open position by the engagement of spring latch sear 37 in hole 50 and spring latch sear 85 in hole 5IZI and spring latch sear 85 in hole 49 in the latch dog.

The withdrawal of the D stirrup cross bar 23, moving latch 33 to the open position causes the stop lug 96 to engage push bar 95 and this, in

,. turn, moves spring latch 90 to the rear, causthe bottom of hole 49, thus, after the withdrawal of D stirrup the latch dog is retained only by sear 84 and is ready to close upon a second movement of latch 33 to the opened position by are-entry of D stirrup draw bar.

Two latch dog retaining sears and spring latches are used to prevent a full release of the latch dog due to any accidental failure of the working parts, or an unintentional operation of plunger 66 while uncoupling.

Upon recoupling the first motion of the entrance of the draw bar 23 of the D stirrup moves the latch 33 to the open position but does not release latch dog 40 until the draw bar 23 is moved hard against the forward face I65 of plunger 66, whereupon this plunger moves to the rear, as indicated by dotted lines, against the tension of springs-18 and in-doing;this, moves spring latch bar 89 to the rear, whereupon sear 8d releaseslatch dog lfl, and at'thesame time sear 8 5 releases dog lifter, 6B. This latter dropsof its own weight to the closed position. As soon as draw bar 23 is moved to ,the'rear again, as inthe forward motion of the tractor plunger 65 moves to therear and dog lifter 60 no longer being supported on shelf 46? may drop to lowered position. During the time After sear 85 disengages from notch 86 and lifter Gil "is ready to fall rearward motion of plungerifi slides the under face 64 on shelf ii, thereuponwhen the lifter fill, dropsfurther-forward mot-ion, of plunger 6%. is blocked by theface. Thereupon, the cross bar I68 of this. plunger.- 23 is fully locked in tractive position. It can not move rearward because. of the engagement of the latch Eiiwhich is held in position by latch dog ill, as above described. Further, latch dog iil is'heldin the latched position by the en-- gagement of the spring latch sear I03 with the opening in the latch, dog body. Draw bar can. not move forward-because of-engagementwith the forwardface I56, of plunger 66, and; plunger 63' is, in turn, lockedin its rearmost position by theengagement of vertical .shelf face W8 with the rear face of latch ,dog lifter, 63-.-

I claim: 1. A coupler operative between tractive and drawn vehicles comprising, a coupler coupler bodyadapte-d to turn on a, horizontal pivot therein, a rectangular tongue receiving cavity therein having, inwardly converging sides, the lower face thereof having a draw bar. retaining lip, a rocking latch operative in the upper face thereof, a latch dog positioned within said coupler body adapted to hold said latch in latching position engaging a draw bar of a D stirrup one. tongue, mechanism within said latch body for releasing said latchfrom said holdingposicoupled body andsaid draw bar, adapted to engage within said opening between the" lipon the lower face of said opening and saidlatch to be retained therein.

2. A coupler operative between tractive anddrawn vehicles comprising, a coupler case adapted to be attached to a tractivevehicle, having a semi-spherical shell, a semi-spherical latch body turnable thereirron a vertical axis,

, mechanism within saidlatch body adapted to releasably engage a transverse draw bar of: a-

tongue Dstirrup, said case being formedto enable said latch body to turn on its vertical axisthroughcut approximately one hundred eighty degrees while said tongue isengaged.

3. In a coupler, as herein disclosed, latching case, adapted to attachment to a tractive vehicle, a

mechanism adapted to releasably latch atransverse draw bar formedat the forward portion of a D stirrup tongue body, including, in combination; ashell composed of upperand lower halves, having internally extending annular bearing guides positioned in horizontal. planes within the upper and :lower parts thereof, with the rear and sidecentral portion cutaway forming an armatelhorizontal slot, a semi-spherical latch body adapted to jfit within said case body and turn therein-onavertical axis having annular grooves in its upperand lower portions cooperative with said'guides in said case, and arectangular tongue opening-inthe rear face thereof having its sides and topflandl bottom faces inwardly converging,-

a vertical well opening extendingthrough said.

body opening into-said tongue opening, a rocking, latch operative .inan opening adjacent said well. on a transverse supporting shaft, and havingahookjon its rear lower portion adaptedto engage the upper portion of a transverse tongue draw bar, a retaining lip on .thelower face of said rectangular tongue opening adapted to partially engage the lower portion of a transverse tongue, draw bar, a latch dog pivotally mounted within, said'well. adapted to holdsaid latch in latched position and to swing toreleased position whereby said latch may raise to released :position, mechanism for moving said latch dog-to latch release position, including a, dog lifter, a hydraulic elevating piston controlled by oil pressure from outside said coupler, and spring latch mechanism for retainingsaid latch dogand latch doglifter in released position after the lifting operation of said elevator, together with mech anisrnfor releasing said latch dog from open.

released. position including aplunger having a face positioned at the. rear of the rectangular opening insaid latchb'ody, and adapted to contact the draw bar of said D stirrup forming a,

forward stop therefor and positioned to operably contact saidspring. latch retaining mechanism when pressediorward bysaid draw bar, and to be locked in its rearn ost position by said latch dog lifter when said lifter is in itslowered position. Y

4. In a coupler for tractive and drawn vehicles, latching mechanism adapted to releasably latch a tongue draw, bar including, a latch body horizontallypivotally supported in acase, a rectangular opening in said latch body having converging sides and top and bottom faces adapted to.

receive a tongue end including a transverse draw bar, mechanism for retaining said draw bar including a retaining lip on the lower face of said opening and a latch having a rocking motion operable within the upper face of said opening, locking mechanism for retaining said latch in locked positiom opening mechanism for releasing said locking mechanism, from locked position and retainingmeans for releasably holding said opening mechanism in open position, and.

tripping mechanism for releasing said opening mechanism from opened position including a plunger operated by said draw bar, whereby insertion of said draw bar into said opening will trip and release the mechanism holding the latch in unlocked position and said latch will assume a closed and locked position.

' NEAL I-IUDEaON. 

